Smoke Alarm Safety
Smoke alarms are proven to save lives by giving those in a fire and early enough alert to safely escape. For some residential homeowners, smoke alarm safety and installation continues to be confusing in terms of how many smoke alarms are necessary, what kinds are best and where exactly to install them. Besides for the installation of smoke alarms, it's crucial to keep up with proper maintenance of the alarms. In this article, you will learn basic installation and maintenance tips for your smoke alarms.
Basic Tips:
1) Smoke alarms are made to detect two kinds of smoke- smoldering and flaming smoke. Not all smoke alarms are made to detect both kinds of smoke. It is best to purchase ones which can detect and alert to either kind of smoke. These types of smoke alarms are often called dual sensing and can be purchased for under $30.
2) Get an alarm with convenient features. If it's in your budget, you may want to consider purchasing a smoke alarm with some new and convenient features such as a remote control by which you can mute the alarm in case of a false alarm. Other features include an easy opening battery box and easy access test button.
3) Many new homes require that smoke alarms get a hard wire instalation. For this you will need an experineced electrician. If you sleep with our doors closed and or have small children in your home, then consider having your smoke alarms hard wired so that when one alarms goes on, then all of the alarms will go on.
4) Special considerations- Research shows that younger children awake quicker to a smoke alarm which uses voice activation. In other words, the alarm is a loud familiar voice that repeats loudly like an alarm siren. For the hearing impaired there are also special smoke alarms such as those with strobe lights.
Installation Tips:
1) A smoke alarm should be installed in every bedroom, at the top of every stairwell, in the basement, in the kitchen and in hallways of your choice. There should be a minimum of one smoke alarm on every level of your home.
2) Smoke alarms are best installed on a ceiling or wall. Ceiling smoke alarms should be installed at least 4 inches away from the nearest wall while wall smoke alarms about 12 inches away from the ceiling. Install the alarms at least 20 feet from appliances like furnaces and ovens. For pitched ceilings- The alarm should be installed near the ceilings highest point.
3) Smoke alarms should not be installed near doors, windows, or vents as it could cause them to work inefficiently.
Maintenance Tips:
1) Test your smoke alarm monthly by pressing the test button located on the outside of the alarm.
2) Replace batteries at least twice a year.
3) Never paint over a smoke alarm
4) Replace all smoke alarms after 10 years
About the Author:
Marcy Tate is a content writer for Networx.com and has been working in the home improvement industry for over 10 years. Find a qualified electrician to hard wire your smoke alarms or for any other electrical need. The electricians at Electricians Networks can give you a free quote on any of your electrical needs.
